Maize header



April 414, 1925.

J. S. LANE l MAIZE HEADER Filed July 25, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 NN MN.

Summit Alxjil1 14, 1925. 1,533,925

J. s. LANE K MAIZE HEADER Filed July 25, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet, 2

nj MMA/@awk April 14, 1925. l J. S. LANE MAIZE HEADER Filed July 25, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 61H01 new Patented Apr. 14, 1925. i

, 1,533,925; OFFICE.

JOHN S'. LANE, 0F ROCHESTER,

MAIZE HEADER.

Application tiled July 25,

To all -w/'zom 'it muy concern.'

Be it knoivn that JOHN S. LANE, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Rochester, in the county of Haskell and State of Texas, has invented new and useful Improvements in Maize Headers, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the invention is to provide comparatively simple and elticientineans for economically handling maize and similar grain in the operation of heading the same so that all of the `grain heads may be harvested, rr-rgardless ofthe height of the stalks which vary to a considerable y extent in growth and toisever the heads from the stalks at a uniform distance from the former so as to minimize the amount of straw which accompanies the heads into the separating or cleaning apparatus; and with this object in view the invention consists in a construction and combination of parts of which a preferred embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side view,

Figure 2 is a plan view, and

Figure 3 is a front end vieuv of a maize harvesting mechanism embodying the iuvention.

Figure a is a rear view.l

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Essentially the machine consists of a longitudinally open base frame having side bars which are connected at an intermediate point by a transverse brace 11 above which is arranged a preliminary or forward cutter bar 12 designed to sever the stalks from the stubble and at a runiform distance from the surface of the ground, the machine being drawn by a pair of draft animals connected with the front ends respectively of the side bars. The machine is adapted to Work on opposite sides of the row of maize which isbeing harvested, and is provided with carrying mechanism supported by the main frame, header cutting mechanism, and elevating means for conveying the severed heads to the stubble side of the machine for discharge into a suitable receptacle or vehicle operating at the side of the harvester. The machine is preferably carried in a substantially balanced condition upon a central transverse axle 13 upon Which are mounted the grain Wheel 14. and the power or driving Wheel 15, to the latter of which may be conieza. sei-iai no. 577,344.

nected a sprocket Wheel 1G through the agency of a manually actuable clutch 17.

Supported by standards `18 rising from the side bars of the main frame are sprocket wheels 19 traversed by conveyor belts or chains 2O carryingfarms 21 which extend transversely of the space between the4 planes of the side bars of the frame into interme-v diate terminal over apping relation substantially. in contact with the upper surface of a grill 22 consisting of longitudinally dis` posed guide rods 23 extendingV substantially throughout the length of the frame with de-. pending front en guiding lingers 23 stalks of the maize below the hea-ds thereof regardless of the shortness of the stems to properly position the. stalks as they vapproach the preliminary or foremosticutter mechanism 12 which as above 'noted serves to sever the stalks near and at a uniform distance from the surface of the ground. The stalks from the point of severance are supported by the grille with the heads resting on the length of the stems andare conveyed rear-. Wardly on the grille by means of the conveyor arms until they reach the header knife or 'cutter mechanism 24e Where the heads are' detached from the stalks, dropping the lat ter to the upon a transverseelevator 25 by which they are conveyed laterally yof the path of the machine for deposit in a suitable recepatcle or vehicle. d

In the construction illustrated the rear sprocket Wheels 19 are provided With vertical spindles 26 carrying at their lower ends bevelpinions 27 engaged by bevel gears 28 on a transverse shaft 29 `drivenfrom the sprocket 16 by a chain 28 While the elevator belt may similarly be driven from the drive Wheel through a chain 29y traversing sprockets 8O and 31. of Which the lattervis carried by the drive shaft 32 of the elevator. The sprocket Wheelv is driven from one of the vertical spindles 26 through a bevel gear couple 29.

ln order to provide for the adjustment of the plane of operation of the preliminary or foremost cutter which for convenience may be termed a stalk cutter as distinguished from tl e rear elevated head cutter, the draft mechanism of the apparatus may include tongues 33 extending parallel with the front guide rods regardless of the c is forming lifting and i adapted `to engage the CIK ground and depositing the heads ends of the side bars or beams ot the trame and mounted upon the axle, and tilting means 34 connected with the tront ends ot said bars or beams and having connection by a rod 35 with the hand lever 36 which is provided with a latch for engagement with a toothed segment 39.

Also as indicated it is preferable to dispose the forward conveyor sprockets 19 in a depressed position with relation to the rear sprockets 19 so as to arrange the guide rods forming thegrille at an upward inclination as they approach theirrear ends, said guide rods having an abrupt drop at or about the transverse plane 'of the trent sprockets 19 to provide the raising or gathering lingers Q3 hereinabove described and serving` to raise the stalks so as to properly position the heads of the maize upon the grille tor conveyance to the rear as indicated.

It willbe obvious that with the mechanism indicated while a practically uniform severance of the grain stalks from the stubble is effected there is also secured a. uniform severance ot the heads from the straw or body portions oil the stalk to minimize the amount ot straw carried with the heads, regardless of the relatively wide range ot' difference in the lengths or heighths oit the stalks in their lgrowth and hence the dilterence in the horizontal planes ot theheads as the grain stands in the field; and in connection with this economical handling ot the stalks there is provid-ed a mechanism whereby allot the maize heads may be harvested regardless of 'the heighth. ot the stalks to minimize the waste which is incurred when the heading cutter operates upon the standing grain, and in connection with which there is ordinarily no means for uniformly positioning` theheads with relation to the header knife or cutting mechanism.

In order to carry the lower ends ol' the stalks rearwardly, atter their separation trom the stubble by the stalk cutting mechanism, to correspond with the movementof the heads by the conveyor 2O is a supplemental conveyor consisting` of chains 40 traversing front and rear sprocket wheels 41 and 42and also provided with ngers 43 similar to those of the conveyor 20, the rear sprocket wheels 42 receiving rotary motion .from the upright shafts 26 by means ot a supplemental chain 44 traversing sprocket wheels 45 and 46 ot which the former are carried on the shafts of the sprocket wheel 42 and the latter operatively connected with the vertical spindles 26 by bevel gear couples 47. Preferably the supplemental conveyor travels at a slightly higher rate ot speed than the head conveyor 20 so as to atford a clearance at the trent ot the machine and obviate any tendency ot the stalks to become crowded or iammed in their movement toward therear of the machine where,

with the attached stalks, means tor conveying the heads rearwardly in this stalk supporting posit-ion and in a common plane, and a head cutter mechanism lfor severing the stalks at a uniform distance trom the heads, the means tor engaging and guiding the heads in a stalk supporting position consisting of a grille having longitudinally disposed rodst'orming spaces tor the reception ot the stems or stalks.

Q. A harvester tor maize and similar products .havinga preliminary or stalk cutting mechanism tor severing the stalks from the stubble at a uniform distance from the plane ot the ground surface, means for engaging the grain heads to support the same with the attached stalks, means for conveying the heads rearwardlyl in this stalk supporting position and in a common plane, and a head cutter mechanism lor severing the stalks at a uniform distance 'from the heads, the means for engaging and guiding the heads in a stalk supporting position consisting ot a grille having longitudinally disposed rods forming spaces for the reception of the stems or stalksl and provided at their lront ends with downwardly directed guiding lingers. l

3. A harvester 'for maize and similar products having a preliminary or stalk cutting mechanism for severing the stalks :trom the stubble at a uniform distance from the plane of the ground surface, means for engaging the grain heads to support the same with the attached stalks, means for conveying the heads rearwardly in this stalk supporting position and in a common plane, and a head cutter mechanism for severing the stalks at a `uniform distance Yfrom the heads, the conveying means consisting` of endless carriers provided with inwardly directe-il arms for traversing the surface ot the head engaging` and carrying means.

4. A harvester for maize and similar products having a preliminaryor stalk cuting mechanism for severing the stalks from the stubble at a uniform distance from thc plane of' the ground surface, means for engaging the grain heads to support the same with the attached stalks, means for conveying the heads rearwardly in this stalk supporting position and in a common pla-ne, and ahead cutter mechanism for severing the stalks at a uniform distance from the heads, the conveying means consisting of endless lll) carriers provided with inwardly directed arms for traversing the surface of the head engaging and carrying means, said arms being arranged in terminal overlapping relation.

5. A harvester for maize and similar products having a preliminary or stalk cutting mechanism for severing the stalks from the stubble at a uniform distancefrom the plane of the ground surface, means for engaging the grain heads to support the same with the attached stalks, means for conveying the heads rearwardly in this stalk supporting position and in a common plane, and a head cutter mechanism for severing the stalks at a uniform distance from the heads, the conveying means consisting of i endless carriers provided with inwardly di rected arms for traversing` the surface of the head engaging and carrying means, and supplemental carriers located below the plane of the first-mentioned carriers for engaging the pendent stalks of the grain.

6. A harvester for maize and similar products having a preliminary or stalk cutting mechanism for severing the stalks from the stubble at a uniform distance from the plane of the ground surface, means for engaging and guiding the heads in a stalk supporting position and consisting of a grille having forwardly inclined longitudinally disposed reds defining spaces for the reception of the stems or stalks, a head cutter mechanism disposed at the rear upper end of the grille for severing the stalks at a uni'- form distance from the head, and means for conveying the heads rearwardly up the inclined grille.

7. A harvester for maize and similar products having a preliminary or stalk cutting mechanism for severing the stalks from the stubble at a uniform distance from the planeof the ground surface, means for engaging and guiding the heads in a stalk supporting position and consisting of a grille having forwardly inclined longitudinally disposed rods defining spaces for the reception of the stems or stalks, a head cutter mechanism disposed at the rear upper end of the grille for severing the stalks at a uniform distance from the head, and inclined conveyor belts disposed at opposite sides of the grille and provided with overlapping arms traversing the upper surface of the grille.

8. A harvester for maize and similar products having a preliminary or stalk cutting vmechanism for severing the stalks from the stubble at a uniform distance from the plane of the ground surface, means for engaging and guiding the heads in a stalk supporting position and consisting of a grille having forwardly inclined longitudinally disposed rods defining spacesv for the reception of the stems or stalks, a head cutter mechanism disposed at the rear upper end of the grille for severing the stalks at a uniform distance from the head, inclined conveyor belts disposed at opposite sides of the grille and provided with overlapping arms trav-- ersing the upper surface of the grille, and supplemental conveyor belts disposed below and paralleling the first said conveyor belts and similarly provided with overlapping arms.. Y

' In testimony whereof he afiixes his signature.

JOHN S. LANE. 

